Professor Mokhtar Saidin, who worked at the Sungai Batu archaeological site in the area from 2007 to 2021, told CNA about his landmark discovery – his team uncovered evidence of a thriving iron export industry dating as far back as 788 BC.
This is much older than the famous monuments of Borobudur (8th century) in Indonesia and Angkor Wat (12th century) in Cambodia, making Sungai Batu and the larger Bujang Valley complex it is part of the oldest civilisation in Southeast Asia.
Professor Mokhtar, who has since retired, also told CNA about his desire for the next generation to take on the mantle of uncovering the rich history of the area.
Bujang Valley is believed to have occupied an area as big as 1,000 sq km on Malaysia’s west coast, stretching from northern Penang to Kedah and possibly eastwards to as far as the current border with Thailand.
Since more than a century ago, researchers who worked on the valley have dug up evidence of Hindu-Buddhist temples, iron smelting sites and ancient relics.
Accompanying the article were photographs by CNA visual journalist Fadza Ishak, giving readers a closer look at these artefacts and the remains of an iron smelting facility and other infrastructure that supported this once-thriving civilisation.